On Friday while we were on holiday in Guernsey we had the saddest of phone calls. Our beloved Sophie had died. She had got up as usual, bright and early and dashed out of the door, but then as Mum was cleaning out the hen houses she noticed a space over the fence where usually a grinning dog would be sat watching the proceedings with interest. She went back to the house to look.
Sophie had stayed on the patio, simply laid herself down and had taken her last breaths in the fresh air of the sunny morning. The other dogs were sat with her, Rosy seeming to sadly understand that her big sister was no longer there, but for Suky licking away at her 'mummy's' face to try to wake her there was no understanding.
The farm was a quieter place when we arrived home yesterday, no big dog to greet us, just two little slightly lost souls vying for our attention.
Lovely Hubby buried his beloved girl yesterday in a spot overlooking her chickens, a spot where she spent so many of her happy hours. The picture shows her in her number one spot, she lies safely now in her number two spot. nearer to the shed where LH spends so much of his time.
He knew and loved her from being a tiny wee thing bought from a farm in Scotland for his stepdaughter. I knew and loved her for the last eight years, and it was decided that she would live with us full time once we started this new life in the country, what better life for a country dog than back where she belonged.
Enjoying walks with Rosy round and about our last farm...
..and loving it when we were usually joined by Archie the cat.
She loved her life, she snatched every minute of fun and pleasure she could from it, she was good at that .... and the best bit she shared it with us. If she found something good to watch or do she came to let us know, she enticed us in with her doggy grin and made Lovely Hubby stop and look at the things she did.
She was a constant companion here on the farm, the 'big dog' that little puppies could cuddle into, the loud threatening warning bark that alerted us to folk calling by, that turned into a welcoming grin for them when she realised they meant us no harm, the large warm presence that reassured either of us when the other was away, the grin that lit up our day.
The dog that lit up our lives.
Sophie
June 1999 - 20th July 2012
RIP Our Best Friend
Sue xx
I am so sorry Sue. Sophie was a lovely girl.
ReplyDeleteNot a lot one can say to a sad post like that other than we are thinking of you. xxx
ReplyDeleteoh, Sue...
ReplyDeletexx
So sorry to read this post, you have written some lovely memories.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue... you obviously gave Sophie a fantastic life... your beautiful post is a lovely tribute to such a lovely girl...sending you and your family a huge hug..Jill xx
ReplyDeleteOh Sue, so sorry to hear of your loss. Sophie was a gorgeous girl.
ReplyDeleteSending much love and hugs to you and your family. xxxx
As I write this tears are streaming down my face... My heart goes out to you and your husband, I know and feel only to well the pain and loss you are feeling. Sending you all of my love and rest in peace beautiful Sophie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful dog and companion. Of course all of the usual things one hears in these kind of situations apply, that she had a great life with you, that you fully enjoyed her, and that she died where she loved best and had a peaceful end. It is sad that you were not with her, but sometimes our animals do chose to die when we are away almost as if to share us, and them, the grief of saying goodbye. She will always be with you, in your hearts. x
ReplyDeleteUpbeat as always what a fitting tribute to your great pal.
ReplyDeleteSue, I am so, so sorry to read about the loss of your precious girl Sophie! What a beautiful tribute, and what a wonderful life she had. I know her loss is made harder because for so long she was embedded within the fabric of your lives. I know the ache your heart is feeling now that she's gone and I hope you find comfort in all your memories of Sophie that can never be taken away...
ReplyDeleteGod speed Sophie....
I'm so sorry that you've lost your lovely friend. She passed in a way that we'd all like to have our pet friends pass...peacefully and at home. xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteOh Sue, I am so sorry to hear this. As has been said she passed away in the sunshine, at her beloved home.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved that photo of her and Rosey from your last farm-it says it all.
She had a wonderful life, full of love.
I am sending you and your dearest the biggest hugs.
Sft xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sue and alan..we are so sorry about Sophie..we loved seeing her pictures..and what a lovely post..the girls thought it was sweet that she would guard the chickens and have a cat for a best friend...
ReplyDeletewe are all sending you and alan our love.
sara,fern,iris
So sorry for your loss :(
ReplyDeleteI too am so sorry for your loss, at least she didn't suffer and went peacefully.
ReplyDeleteGill in Canada
Sleep well, baby girl.
ReplyDeleteJane xxxxx
I am so so sorry for you all. They really are the happiest of dogs. My regards to you both
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. I look at these photos and realize I am looking at one of the luckiest dogs that lived. A life like she had is a dream come true for any dog and she was fortunate to live it. She loved and was loved. A dog can ask for no more than that. I hope in time every memory of her will bring a big smile to your face to replace the pain you feel now. Be proud that you gave her the best life and know that she loved you so much. Hugs, Deb
ReplyDeleteSue I am so sorry to see your news.
ReplyDeleteLove to you all and big hugs from me and George xx
Sorry to hear your news. She was a very lucky girl to be loved and happy like she was, but only time can make the pain easier to bear. x
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful, loving tribute to your dear friend. I am so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry Sue
ReplyDeleteRegards, Sooze xx
So sorry to hear about Sophie!
ReplyDeleteSorry to read about Sophie xx
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to go, say good morning to your friends then lay down and go to sleep....R.I.P Sophie.
Sandie xx
My most sincere condolences to you. Losing a dog like that is like losing a piece of your heart. It's especially hard with a Border Collie because they know how to work their way into both your brain and your heart.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry Sue, Hugs from me xxxx
ReplyDeleteSue & Alan,
ReplyDeleteReally sorry to hear about your Sophie girl. I know how you will miss because she was so special to you both. Thinking of you both & Rosy & Suky too
I'm soooo sorry. The loss of a furbaby is so difficult. xoxox
ReplyDeleteAs I stand here writing this, with a tear in my eye, my beautiful Maddie (3 next week) and so like Sophie but with a little more tan is trying to catch a fly in the patio doorway. You will miss her so much, but how wonderful for her to die at home with her friends as the sun shines. In my whole grown up life I have only had one die at home, all others have had to make that last journey to the vets with me - so hard. Hugs to you and your OH and big cuddles to the furry ones. Ali.
ReplyDeleteso sad
ReplyDeletexx
So sorry Sue for the loss you are both feeling for your friend and companion.
ReplyDeleteOur condolences! It is so hard to lose a friend.
ReplyDeleteBut how wonderful it would be if we could all take draw our last breath sitting in the warm summer sunshine at home.
~S.
So many thanks are needed at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThank you to all of you who have left comments, they are truly lovely and have helped us so much.
It's so good to have so many understanding readers of my Blog. We have nearly all had animals that we have given our hearts to over the years and have lost eventually, but not to have known them would have been unthinkable. Your understanding and compassion is truly wonderful.
Thank you to Mum for sitting with Sophie, long after she had taken her last breath. The company of someone who loves us at the very end is all we can hope for, for both humans and our furry friends. That Mum has had to do this twice in a couple of months shows the remarkable strength of the woman I am lucky enough to be able to call Mum.
Thank you to Jason, who with strength and compassion moved Sophie to a safe place until our return, and who was there for his Gran when she most needed a strong set of arms to hug her and make her feel safe.
Thank you to Lovely Hubby for giving Sophie the resting place she would have loved, overlooking the birds she found so fascinating in life.
Thank you.
Sue xx
I am so very sorry and am thinking of you all.
ReplyDeleteOh this is sad news, I'm so sorry. It has not been a great year for you at all. I'm thinking of you both and your lovely Mum, it must have been awful for her having to tell you the sad news x x x x
ReplyDeleteoh Sue, I'm so so sorry. You're beautiful Sophie had a wonderful life with the 2 of you. She went the way I would wish to go, happy, safe, in a place she loved, no pain. It's what I would wish for every life. It's something especially close to my heart right now, as this morning we discovered that our lovely Lulah has a cancerous tumour in her leg. She's being operated on tomorrow so we'll know more then.
ReplyDeleteWe doggy people stick together in times of need. I'm sending you all a huge virtual hug from the other side of the world. I'm hugging super tight so that you can feel it from so far away. xxx
and I'm putting my appalling you're/your mistake down some dust in my eye. For surely it is dust!
DeleteSo very sorry about your lovely Sophie.
ReplyDelete